LaGuardia CARES

If you are a full-time or part-time student, enrolled in degree or continuing education programs, have eligible citizen or any non-citizen status including undocumented and international student, you are potentially eligible for CARES services and emergency assistance.

*Food pantry, tax preparation, healthcare, legal, and financial counseling are free to all students and their immediately family members. 

A benefit appointment is an appointment used to determine whether you qualify for public assistance programs like SNAP (food stamps), cash assistance, healthcare, childcare, and more. During a benefit appointment, we will review your situation and help you apply for any benefits you are eligible for. This appointment is important because it helps ensure you receive the support you may be entitled to.

• One-on-one benefit screening and assistance.
• Application assistance in applying for and maintaining public benefits
• Educational Expenses
  • Tuition
  • Books, Testing Fees and Materials, Study Guides
• Legal Services
  • Civil, Juvenile, Civil, and Immigration
  • Self-petitions to adjust legal status for undocumented victims of domestic abuse via the Violence Against Women’s Act (VAWA)
  • Naturalization applications and appeals.
  • Green card and work permit renewals
  • Family-based immigration petitions
• Healthcare
  • Affordable Healthcare
  • Emergency Medicaid for undocumented immigrants
• Tax Preparation
  • Single, Married, and Self-Employed Filers
• Emergency Financial Assistance
• Housing and Rental Assistance
• Emergency Transportation
• Adult and Children’s Clothing Upon Availability
• Referral to campus resources

LaGuardia CARES offers several emergency assistance grants based on availability, eligibility, funding, and deadlines. Please review each emergency assistance category carefully and apply only if you meet the eligibility criteria and have an unmet need.

Petrie Foundation
The Carroll and Milton Petrie Foundation and other generous donors understand that life is full of unexpected events–some of which can create serious hardships for students and their families. Petrie emergency assistance provides specific emergency funds from $100 to $3000 to students in good academic standing who are experiencing personal emergencies EXCEPT tuition.

Petrie Emergency Assistance provides financial support to students so that life’s emergencies don’t derail their college educations.

Examples of qualifying emergencies include:

• Illness
• Loss of property or income
• Death of a family member
• Victim of an accident or crime
• Medical Expense

Apply using the Petrie Emergency Assistance Application form.

LaGuardia Foundation
LaGuardia Foundation Emergency Assistance provides support to students of any citizenship status who have immediate needs, including but not limited to rent, transportation, childcare, tuition, books, fees, uniforms, utilities, phone bills, internet access, and medical expenses. Students are considered potentially eligible for emergency assistance based on their demonstrated need.

Friedman Fund for new New Yorkers can also help students of any non-citizen status with emergency assistance. Students are potentially eligible if they:

• Have neither U.S. citizen nor eligible non-citizen status

The process begins with the student applying for emergency assistance and submitting any required documentation. Following the submission, a committee conducts a thorough review of the application and supporting documents. Based on the committee’s evaluation, a decision is reached regarding the students’ eligibility for emergency assistance. The final decision is communicated to the student, typically within a timeframe of 10 business days from the initiation of the application process.

Apply using the LaGuardia Foundation Emergency Assistance form.

Submit documentation using the Dropbox link.

Submit documentation using the Dropbox link.

The services at CARES are free to students upon approval. No appointment is needed to speak with a representative. However, if your schedule is busy or to secure an appointment, please schedule an appointment via email at laguardiacares@lagcc.cuny.edu or call (718) 482-5135.